John Herzfeld Boards Horror-Thriller 'Specimen'
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- John Herzfeld has been set to rewrite and direct horror-thriller 'Specimen,' produced by Chase Vergari and Eric Handler through Second Act Pictures and Script 2 Screen Capital.
- Chase Vergari wrote the original script — about an elite team hired to deliver serial killers to a visionary neuroscientist whose experiment to cure evil unleashes something more dangerous — framing it as the first chapter of a larger franchise.
- Eric Handler described the project as built around 'one of the most electrifying lead roles I've read in years,' highlighting three prominent female roles and citing Herzfeld's track record of casting actors in early roles who become major stars.
- Handler and Vergari's recent producer-financing credits include the upcoming Walton Goggins action film 'Mister' and the Samuel L. Jackson action film 'The Beast,' with Vergari also executive producing Paramount's 'By Any Means' (wide release September 4, 2026) and 'Iconoclast,' which premiered at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival.
- Herzfeld's directing credits include 'Escape Plan: The Extractors,' the Robert De Niro film '15 Minutes,' and HBO Emmy winner 'Don King: Only in America.'
- Handler began his career as a creative executive at DreamWorks before moving to William Morris as an agent, and is represented by McKuin Frankel Whitehead.
- Discussions with cast are currently underway, with no talent attachments announced.
Why it matters: For producers Vergari and Handler, attaching a veteran director with De Niro and HBO Emmy credits de-risks their expansion from financing action fare (Goggins, Jackson) into the horror-thriller space and validates the script's franchise ambitions. The explicit emphasis on 'three phenomenal female roles' and a single breakout lead role signals where casting heat — and budget — will concentrate.
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